History with Archaeology BA (Hons)

The past has many dimensions and there are many routes to it. Archaeology, which deals with material evidence, artefacts, monuments and buildings, is one avenue, while history, traditionally derived from written sources, is another. They are complementary and both are relevant to our past - together they help to guide us through the maze of evidence available to arrive at an understanding of the past.

Why choose Bangor University for this course?

This course emphasises the 2 complementary sources of evidence, giving you experience in working with both archaeological and historical sources.

During the History with Archaeology degree you will develop skills that will be advantageous in a number of careers. Students from Bangor have gone on to work towards field and museum qualifications and many have professional archaeological careers.

The School has an excellent teaching reputation.

Our staff specialise in the archaeology of Britain and Ireland, with some European archaeology. We offer modules which include prehistory, Roman, early medieval and medieval archaeology as well as landscape archaeology and heritage.

North Wales is exceptionally rich in archaeological monuments of all periods. Field trips, archaeological survey and excavation take advantage of this.

Our local museum enables you to gain experience in handling artefacts - an opportunity not widely offered elsewhere. Students can gain valuable experience through work placements in the local archaeological field unit.

Key Facts from UniStats

You spend about 12 hours per week in lectures, seminars and practicals. Outside this time you will complete essays, analysis exercises, preparation for seminars and reading. In addition to this, field trips to visit archaeological sites and museums are an important part of the teaching experience. You will also have the opportunity to go on excavations and carry out other practical work.

In the first year you will have around 5 trips to visit local monuments. In the second and third years field trips vary in length and nature and include local sites, as well as trips to other parts of Britain and Ireland.

Assessment is through a combination of written work, essays, exams, portfolios and presentations. The dissertation and the special subject each form one-third of the assessment in the final year.

All lectures are in English but you may write essays and exams in Welsh if you wish.

The best aspect of both schools has to be the lecturers - each one I’ve met is extremely knowledgeable, always approachable, and clearly invested in the subjects they teach.

Megan LanghamHistory and English

What will you study on this course?

Year 1

In the first year of the History with Archaeology degree the core modules provide a broad foundation in the subject.

Compulsory modules:

Introduction to Archaeological Principles and Techniques

Past Unwrapped

At least one from:

Introduction to Prehistory

Introduction to Historic Archaeology: Roman and Medieval Britain

A further two from:

Apocalypse Then: The Crisis of the 14th century

The Birth of Modern Europe, 1470-1600

Introduction to Modern History, 1815-1914

Other optional modules:

History and Heritage modules

Welsh History modules

Year 2

You choose from a variety of options in History and Archaeology. Between a third and half of your modules must be in Archaeology. You may specialise in prehistory and/or historic archaeology. Choices include modules on Bronze Age Europe, Viking archaeology, landscape archaeology and heritage. There are opportunities to join an excavation and gain work experience with an excavation unit or museum.

Year 3

You take further specialist modules as described under the second year. You must also take a special subject in History (e.g. The Norman Conquest, Henry II, Power, Society and the State, Celtic Revival 1800-1920) and complete a dissertation, which gives you the opportunity to do research on an archaeological or historical topic of your choice or combine the two.

Modules for the current academic year

Module listings are for guide purposes only and are subject to change. Find out what our students are currently studying on the History with Archaeology Modules page.

Course content is for guidance purposes only and may be subject to change.

The complementary nature of these two disciplines will enable you to pursue a career in Archaeology by means of the practical and theoretical skills acquired, coupled with a clear understanding of historical contexts. More generally, this degree will provide you with analytical and practical skills enabling you to tackle a variety of careers in the humanities.

A degree in course equips students with a wide range of skills necessary to enter into a career in heritage, archaeology or the museums sector. It also provides key transferrable skills, such as:

The ability to collate, analyse and contextualise data-sets

An ability to critically review the literature and formulate logical and structured arguments

Develop written and presentation and practical archaeological skills as well as working as part of a team.

Writing and editorial skills

An appreciation of the complexity and diversity of situations, events and past mentalities

Experience gained from carrying out and completing a major research project in the third year – the dissertation

A range of practical skills acquired through survey, excavation and the study of material evidence

Good IT skills

Time management skills

These transferable skills are fundamental to other employment sectors, such as the public sector, teaching, tourism, law, accountancy and management.

Work experience opportunities at Bangor University

Year 2 and 3 students are provided with the opportunity to complete work-placement modules, which can be carried out in the university or through external organizations. These are assessed as part of the final degree. The programme enhances employability prospects and offers an insight into the type of employment opportunities a degree in history or archaeology offers. Students have undertaken placements in a wide range of workplaces, including archives, archaeological units, museums and heritage centres.

For more information on employment opportunities in archaeology, please click here.

It is now possible to supplement your degree with the Bangor Employability Award. For more information on this award, please click here.

Employability and History and Archaeology degrees

The strength of a History and Archaeology degree is its intellectual breadth and flexibility. This makes our graduates an attractive proposition for employers looking for analytical and lateral thinkers.

Transferable skills

Studying History, Archaeology and Heritage prepares our students for the workplace by providing academic skills and honing personal ones:

Research skills and the evaluation of data sets

Critical thinking

Writing and editorial skills

Confidence and flexibility

Independent and team working

Communication and presentation skills

IT and Time management

Practical skills in archaeology (survey, excavation and the study of material evidence).

Work experience while you study

The School’s work placement module provides an insight into the type of employment to which a degree in History or Archaeology can lead.

Students gain work experience in:

Archives

Schools

Heritage sites (National Trust, Cadw, English Heritage)

Heritage railways

Museums

Westminster Parliament and the Welsh Assembly

Archaeological digs and units

Trusts and charities

Read what our students say about the workplace experience (link to work placement page).

Directed personal and professional development while studying helps our students achieve a CV that catches the attention of prospective employers.

In addition to a degree, Bangor students can provide prospective employers with a record of academic and non-academic achievements through the Bangor Employability Award Scheme (BEA) and HEAR report.

Career opportunities

History, Archaeology and Heritage students enter careers in many different fields:

Archaeological units, archives and librarianship

Museums and heritage management

Research (Academic and the media – television, radio, film).

Teaching in primary, secondary and higher education

Business and finance professions

Law

Commercial, industrial and public service management

Marketing, sales and public relations

Civil service, charities and local and regional government

Personnel

Leisure and travel

Tourism

Work experience opportunities at Bangor University

Level 5 and 6 students are provided with the opportunity to complete work-placement modules, which can be carried out in the university or through external organizations. These are assessed as part of the final degree. The programme enhances employability prospects and offers an insight into the type of employment opportunities a degree in history or archaeology offers. Students have undertaken placements in a wide range of workplaces, including archives, archaeological units, museums and heritage centres.

Employment Opportunities

Examples of employment opportunities in history and archaeology can be found at the following sites:

Opportunities at Bangor

The University’s Skills and Employability Service provides a wide range of resources to help you achieve your graduate ambitions. Developing your personal skills and enhancing your employability while at university is becoming increasingly important in today’s job market.

The Bangor Employability Award enables students to build on their transferable skills through the recognition of activities they become involved in during their university life. Students can gain points towards the award through extra-curricular activities such as volunteering, attending workshops or actively participating in the Students’ Union’s clubs and societies.

The HEAR is a final graduation report that all undergraduates receive. The report itemises all academic achievements and additional extra and co-curricular achievements. Academic achievements appear on the report automatically and students are able to note their eligible activities by using the online platform ‘My Employability Hub’. This ensures that future employers are made aware of the additional skills the student has gained outside of the curriculum.

The Award is open to everyone and taking part in the scheme can make a major difference to your performance in the graduate job market.

Internships

Bangor University runs undergraduate and postgraduate internship schemes twice a year, which allow students to work in a professional environment while learning relevant skills and earning money.

Internships offer valuable experience in a professional workplace and there are a range of internships you can get involved in.

Student Volunteering

Not only is volunteering worthwhile – it also improves your employability and widens your experience.

The Students’ Union has a dedicated Student Volunteering Office (SVB) which currently contributes a total of 600 hours each week, promoting a close relationship between the university and the local community. Find out more on the Student Volunteering pages of the Bangor Student’s Union website.

TARGETconnect - Working while you Study

The Skills and Employability Service offers support to students searching for employment during and after their studies.

City & Guilds Advanced Technical/ Extended Diploma: considered on a case by case basis

Access: Pass

Welsh Baccalaureate is accepted.

International Candidates: school leaving qualifications and college diplomas are accepted from countries worldwide (subject to minimum English Language requirements). More information here.

We also welcome applications from mature applicants.

*For a full list of accepted Level 3 qualifications, go to www.ucas.com

For 2019 entry:

112-120 tariff points from a level 3* qualification – History preferred. *Level 3 qualifications include A levels, BTEC, Access, Irish Highers, International Baccalaureate, Welsh Baccalaureate, Scottish Advanced Highers and others – for a full list, please refer to the new UCAS tariff at www.ucas.com.

We also welcome applications from mature applicants, individuals with European qualifications and international applicants (subject to minimum English language requirements).

General University entry requirements

We accept students with a wide range of qualifications and backgrounds and consider each application individually.

All students need to have good basic skills and the University also values IT and communication skills.

As part of the University’s policy we consider applications from prospective disabled students on the same grounds as all other students.

To study a degree, diploma or certificate course you’ll be asked for a minimum of UCAS Tariff points. For a fuller explanation of the UCAS Tariff Points, please see www.ucas.com

We also consider applications from mature students who can demonstrate the motivation and commitment to study a university programme. Each year we enrol a significant number of mature students. For more help and advice about being a mature student at Bangor, please visit the Study at Bangor site.

Specific entry requirements can be seen on the individual course pages.

EU and International students' entry requirements

For information and further detailed guidance on entry requirements for EU and International Students, including the minimum English Language entry requirement, please visit the Entry Requirements by Country pages. International applicants can also visit the International Education Centre section of our website for further details.

If you attend your Graduation Ceremony, there will be a cost for gown hire (£25-£75) and cost for guest tickets (£12 each).

Course-specific additional costs
Depending on the course you are studying, there may be additional course-specific costs that you will be required to meet. These fall into three categories:

Mandatory Costs: these are related to a particular core or compulsory module that you’ll be required to complete to achieve your qualification e.g. compulsory field trips, uniforms for students on placement, DBS Check.

Necessarily Incurred Costs: these may not be experienced by all students, and will vary depending on the course e.g. professional body membership, travel to placements, specialist software, personal safety equipment.

Optional Costs: these depend on your choice of modules or activity and they are shown to give you an indication of the optional costs that may arise to make sure your choice is as informed as possible. These can include graduation events for your course, optional field trips, Welcome Week trips.

Mandatory Costs:

There are no mandatory costs, but if a student spends £50 on books per module then it would cost £300 pa.

Necessarily Incurred Costs:

Travel to placements: Some basic travel costs might be incurred depending on the location of the placement. An average example would be 2 weeks, public transport, £40.

Optional Costs:

Extra costs might be incurred if students decide to purchase more books, but this optional and entirely down to the individual.

Option 2- Applying to study at Bangor through UCAS

UCAS is an online application system allowing students to apply for up to five courses in the UK through one application. You can apply for more than one programme at a specific university, for example you could apply to study BA Psychology and BSc Psychology with Clinical and Health Psychology at Bangor. Find out more about how to apply to Bangor University through UCAS

If you have applied through UCAS already then you may wish to visit the International Student pages of UCAS website for further information.

Contact us

Studying History with us

We are a centre of academic excellence offering high-quality, research-led teaching

History has been taught at Bangor since the foundation of the University in 1884 – we have a wealth of experience and a strong sense of tradition

Our expertise spans medieval, early modern, modern and contemporary history as well as Welsh history, archaeology and heritage

We are recognised for outstanding pastoral care and award-winning teaching

Bangor is an inspiring location in which to study history, particularly Welsh History in which we have an unrivalled research record

The School has an excellent teaching reputation with an emphasis on small group teaching and one-on-one support

Our community of students, lecturers and researchers is a friendly and stimulating place to work and study

The School has a proven record of research achievement, with the regular publication of books and articles by staff with international reputations in their fields

Bangor is located in an area with an outstanding range of archaeology monuments: prehistoric tombs and stone circles, Roman forts, native farmsteads, and medieval castles including the World Heritage sites of Beaumaris, Caernarfon and Conwy

Students are encouraged to take part in excavations and there are opportunities to work in the local Archaelogical unit, museums and archives

Studying at Bangor

Rated Gold for teaching

We have been awarded a Gold rating, the highest rating possible, for the standarad of our teaching in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) assessment. The TEF assessment took into account teaching quality, learning environment and student outcomes and learning gain. We were judged to deliver consistently outstanding teaching, learning and outcomes for our students and our teaching is of the highest quality found in the UK.

A top 10 university

The National Student Survey (NSS) results place Bangor amongst the UK’s top 10 universities (excluding specialist institutions) for student satisfaction. This reflects the University’s focus on overall student experience.